Scholastic softball preview

Sunday

Last season, the Ambridge High School softball team almost had a golden year.

The Bridgers lost the WPIAL championship game 1-0 to Montour and then lost 5-4 in the PIAA playoffs to Bellefonte, the eventual champion.

This year, the Bridgers are looking to get even closer, despite the fact they'll start with a target on their collective backs.

"After last year, it was only a month, maybe two, before the girls started talking about this year, having clinics for the younger girls and starting conditioning," said Ambridge coach Bubba Huwar. "They're anxious to get started this year.

"We kind of know that teams will be going after us but we have a good group of seniors that have been together. But our youth programs are working together well and we'll have three or four sophomores playing this year."

Ambridge's tough exhibition schedule includes the Montour squad they played in the championship, plus a game with Class AAAA Seneca Valley and a scrimmage with North Allegheny, and only one team Ambridge scheduled had a losing record last year - Class AAAA Canon-McMillan in a playoff tuneup on May 11.

That will help the Bridgers prepare for a remodeled section from last year. Montour, Moon Area and West Allegheny have moved to section 2-AAA while Central Valley and Ellwood City have moved in to join Blackhawk, Hopewell and New Castle.

There are also changes in Class AA as Freedom and New Brighton have moved to Section 5-AA to replace Ellwood City and Shenango. Remaining in Section 5-AA are Beaver, Beaver Falls, Laurel, Mohawk and Riverside.

"We're losing a rival in Ellwood City," said Riverside coach Pam McCarty. "But it used to be a big rivalry when we had Center and New Brighton in the section. Those were the good old days when games with Pete (Pietrandrea at Center) and Joe (Ursida at New Brighton) used to have your stomach in knots for days."

Riverside will be an early favorite to make a run for a title and, like Ambridge, has an exhibition schedule designed to challenge.

"We don't play any Class A or AA schools," said McCarty. "We always play bigger schools. I tell the girls that, win or lose, they'll take something away from that kind of contest."

The other changes in local Class AA sections is in 1-AA where Freedom and New Brighton have moved, Quaker Valley remains, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart has moved up from Class A.

In Class A, Cornell and Sewickley Academy remain in Section 3-A, while Shenango replaces Monaca in Section 5-A. The other local teams in that section are Aliquippa, Quigley Catholic, Rochester, South Side, and Western Beaver.

The Golden Beavers, section champions a year ago, return 11 letterwinners to make them an early favorite to be a force at that level.

Coachspeak: "My captains (Cooper, Perry, and Phillips) are great leaders and mentors for the younger players. Through their hard work, we are looking forward to having a lot of positive things happen this season."

Coachspeak: "We have a good senior group of kids that have played in many big games. They lost to two good teams last year in the WPIAL finals and to the PIAA Class AAA champion. Many underclassmen also did a great job for us last year. Hopefully, they continue to work hard so we can get to the next level."

Coachspeak: "We're looking forward to starting this season with a strong group of returners and an athletic group of underclassmen. Don't let last year's record fool you; the ability of these girls is going to turn some heads."

Coachspeak: "Our attitudes are positive. Several players have been working in the off-season. Dayna Hicks is an offensive threat and we have high expectations for our senior pitcher, Nicole Czulewicz."

Coachspeak: "We have a great group of girls returning that gained valuable experience last season. To be successful, we will need to play as a team and put the ball in play and make the routine plays on defense."

Coachspeak: "We have a young team this season with three senior letterwinners, one first-year senior, and only two juniors. We will be looking to some of our underclassmen to step up their game. Our focus is to improve our level of play overall."

Coachspeak: "We are entering a new section, and Riverside and Mohawk will be the preseason favorites. We are playing in a rich softball section, so it will take a great effort on our part to compete this season. We will be up to that task."

Coachspeak: "We should have another strong section. It looks like Western Beaver should be the favorite. We will rely on a veteran infield and are looking for our pitchers, Dakota Long and Macey Braddock, to provide us with some defensive strength."

Coachspeak: "With two good pitchers (Duerr, Greathouse), we can throw variety at our opponents. The most important thing is to learn how to compete at the varsity level (this is Sewickley's second year in the WPIAL) and play in games with the same confidence we show in practice."